Santorini Private Tour: Customize Day Oia Akrotiri Red Beach

Two to Eight Hours Across Santorini's Landmarks, Villages and Volcanic Coastline

A private guided tour of Santorini where you choose the stops and the length, from a quick 2-hour loop to a full 8-hour day hitting Oia's sunsets, the Red Beach cliffs, Akrotiri's ancient Minoan ruins, Prophet Elias Monastery at the island's highest point, traditional villages like Pyrgos and Megalochori, and optional wine tastings. Hotel, port or airport pickup and drop-off are included, as is an English, Spanish or Greek-speaking guide and bottled water. Entrance fees to archaeological sites and winery tastings are optional add-ons you arrange on the day or include upfront depending on which package you book.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Perivolos Beach1h
2. Red Beach20m
3. Monastery of Profitis Ilias25m
4. Akrotiri1h

Explore Santorini's iconic sights

• Visit Oia village and caldera views
• See the Three Bells of Fira
• Explore Megalochori village
• Discover Pyrgos village and castle ruins
• Relax at Perivolos black-sand beach
• Visit Red Beach cliffs
• Enjoy views from Akrotiri Lighthouse
• Visit Prophet Elias Monastery
• Tour Akrotiri Archaeological Site
• See windmills of Emporio village
• Explore Emporio Castelli village
• Wine tasting at Santo Wines winery

The experience

You choose how much of Santorini you want to see and build the itinerary around it. The tour runs from 2 hours up to 8 hours, and the stops available to you depend on the time you book. A 2-hour option might focus on Oia and a viewpoint, while a 6 or 8-hour day opens up the full menu: Akrotiri Archaeological Site (the "Pompeii of the Aegean," buried under volcanic ash for centuries), Red Beach with its dramatic rust-colored cliffs, Perivolos black-sand beach, the Monastery of Prophet Elias at 565 meters above sea level, traditional hillside villages like Pyrgos and Megalochori, the windmills of Emporio, and Santo Wines for tastings overlooking the caldera. The guide handles the route and the timing. You decide which combination appeals to you when you book.

Hotel, port or airport pickup and drop-off are included, and the driver is your guide for the day: English, Spanish or Greek-speaking depending on which option you select. Bottled water comes with you. The travel time between sites is built into the tour duration, so you're not waiting around. The vehicle moves while you're between stops. A few of the stops involve walking on foot-only paths and some stairs or slopes, so moderate fitness helps, though the operator says they'll find alternatives if you need them. Cruise passengers meet at the top of the cable car at the port.

Entrance fees to Akrotiri Archaeological Site are not included in the tour price and can be paid on the day if you choose to visit. Wine tastings at Santo Wines or other wineries are optional and at your expense, unless you book one of the packages that bundles a winery visit with the tour cost. Lunch at a seaside restaurant and any gratuities are also your choice.

What’s included

• Private transportation with an English, Spanish or Greek-speaking guide.
• hotel, port or airport pickup and drop-off.
• bottled water.
• all fees and taxes for the tour itself (entrance fees to archaeological sites and winery tastings are optional and paid separately unless bundled into your chosen package).

Options for this experience

10 options

Private custom tour lasting 2 hoursGuide in English · 21 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00Lasts 2 hours and usually covers either one stop such as Oia, or two stops such as a beach and a village. Pickup is included.

Private custom tour lasting 3 hoursGuide in English · 19 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00Lasts 3 hours and usually covers Oia plus a couple of other stops. Pickup is included.

Private custom tour lasting 4 hoursGuide in English · 16 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:30Lasts 4 hours and usually covers Oia plus three other stops. Pickup is included.

See 7 more options

Private custom tour lasting 5 hoursGuide in English · 17 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:00Lasts 5 hours and usually covers Oia plus three other stops. Pickup is included.

Private tour in Spanish lasting 4 hours16 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:30Lasts 4 hours and usually covers Oia plus three other stops. A local guide with advanced oral Spanish is included. Pickup is included.

Private custom tour lasting 6 hoursGuide in English · 16 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:30Lasts 6 hours and usually covers Oia plus about four other stops, with an optional one-hour lunch break (lunch not included). Pickup is included.

Private custom tour lasting 8 hoursGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 13:00Lasts 8 hours and usually covers Oia plus about 5-6 other stops, with a possible optional lunch break (lunch not included). Pickup is included.

Private tour in Spanish lasting 6 hours16 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:30Lasts 6 hours and usually covers Oia plus four other stops. A local guide with advanced oral Spanish is included. Pickup is included.

Must-See and wine tasting (6 hours)Guide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00Lasts 6 hours in total: a 5-hour private island tour plus a 1-hour winery visit with a four-sip wine tasting. The tour covers Oia (1 hour), Three Bells (15 minutes), Megalochori (40 minutes), the winery with four sips of wine (60 minutes) and Black Sand Beach (60 minutes). Pickup is included.

Must-See and visit to Santo WineryGuide in English · 15 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 15:00Lasts 6 hours in total, combining a private island tour with a four-sip wine tasting at Santo Winery. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day21 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Greek

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on site€ 30

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by Santorini i-Land Tours

Is this one for you?Book a longer option (5, 6, or 8 hours) if you want to see both the archaeological ruins and the dramatic coastline without rushing between stops. A 2 or 3-hour tour works if you're short on time or docked on a cruise ship and need to be back by a set hour. The guide will prioritize Oia and a viewpoint to make the most of it.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

In English, with 21 departure times. In Spanish, with 18 departure times.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

Can I visit Oia and Red Beach on the same tour?

Yes. Oia is included in the 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8-hour custom tours, and Red Beach is available on the 5, 6, and 8-hour options (you can choose it instead of Perivolos black-sand beach on the 5-hour tour). The longer your tour, the more stops you can fit in.

What is the Akrotiri Archaeological Site like?

Akrotiri is a remarkably well-preserved Minoan Bronze Age settlement, often called the "Pompeii of the Aegean" because volcanic ash buried it for centuries. You walk through ancient houses, see frescoes and artifacts, and step into Santorini's history. Entrance tickets are not included in the tour rate and are paid separately on the day if you choose to visit.

Does the tour include wine tasting?

Wine tasting is optional. You can visit Santo Wines or other local wineries at your own expense during the tour, or you can book one of the packages that includes a winery visit and wine tasting in the price: the "Must-See & Santo Winery Visit" or "Must-See & Wine Tasting" options both run 6 hours and bundle the winery cost into the tour price.

What if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Cruise passengers meet the guide at the top of the cable car at the port. Hotel or airport pickup is not needed. The tour starts from there and returns you to the same spot in time for your ship's departure.

How much walking is involved?

The tour includes some walking on foot-only paths, stairs, and slopes. Moderate physical fitness is recommended, though the operator says they'll work with you to find alternatives if you need them. Most travelers can participate, but those with poor cardiovascular health may want to check with the operator first.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. You can choose to eat at a seaside taverna or restaurant during the tour at your own expense, or the guide can recommend stops where you can grab food or drinks.